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“and its like i always said, kittypet,” tigerclaw’s words were laced with malice as he stalked towards the quivering firepaw. “you will never be a warrior.“ the last thing firepaw heard and felt was his own yowl and tigerclaw's jaws snapping hard on his neck.
firepaw jolted awake in his nest. his breathing heavy as he looked around the apprentices’ den. nothing except for graypaw's snoring and a slight shuffle of the nest ravenpaw slept in as he twitched ever so slightly. he sighed, carefully as possible getting out of his nest. he wanted to go back to sleep badly, yet the nightmare still rested fresh in his mind. it wouldn't be wise to go back to sleep now.
he carefully pawed out of the den, being light as to not wake any sleeping cat. he wondered who was supposed to be on guard tonight? he approached the tunnel and saw (and heard) longtail sleeping while on duty.
hah! firepaw almost couldn't contain himself from mrrowing out loud. THE longtail, the one who prided himself on being better than a ‘soft kittypet’ sleeping while on guard duty? the irony of this amused firepaw greatly.
he walked back into the heart of the camp, finding a stick one of the kits was playing with before their mother likely ushered them off to bed. making his way back to and through the gorse tunnel with the stick in his mouth, he prodded longtail with the stick until the tom awoke. he jolted, only to relax once he realized everything was fine.
even with longtail woken, firepaw still couldn't shake the nightmare off of his head. the thought of being alone with tigerclaw, a tom who so clearly hated him, cornering him, pouncing…firepaw likely unable to defend himself, the large tom would sink his teeth in-
“firepaw?“ bluestar's mew awoke firepaw from his dreadful thoughts. “are you alright?”
firepaw shook his head as if he was clearing the thoughts there, and stared at bluestar with a bit of intimidation and anxiety.
“yep! just, couldn't sleep, you know? had a…nightmare, i guess,” firepaw didn't know why it felt so awkward to admit to his mentor and leader that he experienced nightmares like a kit. “not very warrior-like of me, i know,”
“even the bravest warrior, ones with a lion’s heart, still get nightmares from time to time. even i do,” bluestar reassured, with an almost motherly tone firepaw had never heard from the leader before. “a true warrior always fears battle, for he knows what battle costs,”
bluestar bent down to give firepaw a reassuring lick over the head. “it is of no trouble if you wish to sleep somewhere without your denmates tonight, provided you're up before the morning patrol,”
firepaw silently nodded, following bluestar into her den and curling next to the blue gray leader as she silently gave soft, lulling licks, as he fell asleep.